Dear mwallace43,

Don't smoke. Women who smoke and have high blood pressure and/or are over 35 should not use combined hormone methods of contraception — the pill, the patch, or the ring. Otherwise they take very serious health risks. The older the woman is and the more she smokes, the greater the danger. In fact, women 35 and older who smoke are 10 times more likely to have a heart attack than those who don't smoke.

Women under 35 who smoke and want to use a combined method of birth control should talk with their health care providers about their individual situations. Even though you smoke, you may be eligible for a combined hormone method like the patch.

The patch is up to 99.7 percent effective against pregnancy when it's used correctly. The patch offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections — only latex and female condoms do.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.